The new Porsche Taycan
With the launch of the new Taycan, there is now a choice of four all-electric sports cars
As from the middle of March 2021, the new Taycan will complete the sports saloon model range as the fourth variant, alongside the Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S. The new entry-level model features rear-wheel drive, is available with two battery sizes and delivers up to 300 kW (408 PS) with the Performance Battery or up to 350 kW (476 PS) with the Performance Battery Plus1.
Battery with voltage of up to 800 volts
With the Performance Battery Plus, the Taycan is the first series production car with a system voltage of 800 volts (voltage range 610 to 835 volts) instead of the usual 400 volts seen in electric cars. The two-deck Performance Battery Plus (standard in the Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S) contains 33 cell modules consisting of 12 individual cells each (396 in total). Their total capacity is 93.4 kWh. The Taycan and Taycan 4S are equipped with a Performance Battery with 28 cell modules and a gross energy content of 79.2 kWh. This results in a voltage range of approximately 520 to 720 volts.
Porsche has made a successful start into the all-electric era
Porsche delivered just under 20,000 Taycan cars to customers worldwide in 20202. Taycan models currently account for 70 per cent of all Porsche models sold in Norway. The electric sports car has already received almost 50 international awards, above all in its principal markets of Germany, USA, UK and China.
Numerous new features on board
The Plug & Charge function3 enables convenient charging and payments without the need for cards or an app. As soon as the charging cable is plugged in, the Taycan establishes encrypted communication with the Plug & Charge-compatible charging station. The charging and payment processes then start automatically. Additional innovations include a colour head-up display and an on-board charger with a charging capacity of up to 22 kW. The adaptive air suspension also features a Smartlift function as standard.
Flexible upgrades after purchase with Functions on Demand (FoD)
Thanks to FoD, Taycan drivers can purchase various convenience and assist functions as required. What makes this approach special is that this option is also possible after the vehicle has been bought and availability does not depend on the sports car’s original configuration. It is not necessary to visit a workshop thanks to online activation. This was already possible for the Porsche Intelligent Range Manager (PIRM). For the 2021 model year, Power Steering Plus, Active Lane Keep Assist and Porsche InnoDrive have been added as further FoD functions.
Purist exterior design with Porsche DNA
With its clean, purist design, the Taycan signals the beginning of a new era. At the same time, it retains the unmistakable Porsche design DNA. Its silhouette is defined by its sporty roofline sloping downward to the rear – called a ‘flyline’ by Porsche designers. The highly sculpted side sections are also characteristic. The sleek cabin (known as the greenhouse), the drawn-in D-pillar and the pronounced shoulders of the wings result in a sharply emphasised rear, typical of the brand. These features are complemented by innovative elements such as the glass-look lettering for the Porsche logo in the light bar.
Unique interior design with a wide glass display band
Inside, classic design features have been reinterpreted and brought into the digital age. The wing-shaped upper and lower sections of the dashboard stretch across the entire width of the car. The free-standing, curved instrument cluster forms the highest point on the dashboard. This places a clear focus on the driver axis. A central 10.9-inch infotainment display and an optional passenger display are combined to form an integrated glass band in a black-panel look. There is also the option of classic leather for the seats as well as the sustainably tanned Club Leather OLEA, which uses olive leaves in the tanning process. A fully leather-free interior is now also available for the first time. The floor covering uses the recycled fibre Econyl®, which is made from, among other things, recycled fishing nets.
Best cd value of all current Porsche cars
Outstanding aerodynamics with a cd value from 0.22 make a significant contribution to low energy consumption and thus long range. The measures relating to Porsche Active Aerodynamics (PAA) include adjustable air vents in the nose of the car and a variable rear spoiler. Thanks to air suspension, the car’s frontal surface area is reduced by lowering the Taycan in two stages at higher speeds.
Innovative electric drive motors and two-speed transmission
The new Taycan comes with rear-wheel drive. Its drive architecture comprises a permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle and, like the other models, a two-speed transmission. The Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S have two electric motors, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle, thus making the cars all-wheel drive. Both the range and the continuous power of the drive benefit from the high efficiency of the permanently excited synchronous motors. The electric motor, transmission and pulsecontrolled inverter are each combined into a compact drive module.
Intelligent charging management at home and on the road
Taycan drivers can charge their vehicles at home with up to 11 kW of alternating current (AC) as standard. An on-board charger delivering 22 kW is available as new optional equipment. When on the road, Taycan drivers benefit from the sophisticated temperature management strategy for the battery. This allows the batteries to be charged with higher currents (direct current, DC), speeding up the process significantly. This means that, in around five minutes, the battery can be recharged for a range of up to 100 km (according to WLTP).
Innovative chassis systems
Porsche uses a centrally networked control system for the Taycan chassis. The integrated Porsche 4D Chassis Control analyses and synchronises all chassis systems in real time. The Taycan 4S, Taycan Turbo and Taycan Turbo S feature adaptive air suspension with three-chamber technology including PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) electronic damper control as standard. For the new Taycan, air suspension is available as an option in lieu of the standard steel-spring suspension. The air suspension automatically includes a Smartlift function. This allows the Taycan to be programmed so that the ride height is automatically raised at certain recurring locations such as road humps or garage driveways.
Sophisticated mix of materials for maximum strength
The Taycan was designed from the ground up as a purely electrically powered sports car. The engineers used the resulting design freedom to get the most technically out of the vehicle concept. The battery is installed low-down in the car, and centrally, which ensures a very low centre of gravity. Its integration was an essential cornerstone in the design of the body, which features a number of innovations. The aluminium housing of the underfloor battery is part of the Taycan’s safety structure, while the fully galvanised body is mainly a mix of aluminium and steel.
Extensive passive safety systems
Depending on the seating configuration, four or five three-point belts with force limiters are fitted as standard. The Porsche Side Impact Protection System consists of side impact protection elements in the doors, as well as thorax airbags integrated into the side bolsters of the front seats. The side protection system is rounded off by curtain airbags covering the entire roof frame and side windows from the A- to the C-pillar. Full-size airbags and one knee airbag each for driver and front passenger are fitted up front.
Modern assistance systems
A variety of comfort and assistance systems make the Taycan not only safer, but also much more comfortable to travel in. The RECAS (Rear End Collision Alert System) actively warns the traffic behind about a potential rear-end collision.
Innovative air conditioning concept
In the Taycan, the louvre-less air vents are electrically controlled and, for the first time, integrated into the fully automatic control of the air-conditioning system. The optional heat pump uses the waste heat from the powertrain to heat the interior efficiently. This extends the car’s range, particularly in low ambient temperatures.
Extensive standard equipment
Porsche has upgraded the standard equipment for the 2021 model year. Digital Radio is now standard. Digitally broadcast radio stations in DAB, DAB+ and DMB audio formats offer significantly better sound quality. Porsche has also enhanced the standard equipment in terms of connectivity and Apple® podcasts can now be selected as an individual media source. With LED headlights, Advanced Climate Control (2 zones), multifunction sports steering wheel, partial leather interior and eight-way electrically adjustable comfort seats, the standard equipment of the Taycan and Taycan 4S is already extensive. For the Taycan Turbo, 14-way electrically adjustable comfort seats come as standard. The Taycan Turbo S features 18-way electrically adjustable adaptive sports seats, a leather-free two-tone interior as well as rear-axle steering, Sport Chrono package and Porsche Electric Sport Sound.
Source: Porsche Europe